this trip undoubtedly would help to burnish his foreign policy credentials. 2016 though a long ways away but there will be a lot of attention paid to this trip, craig, because there is so much speculation whether or not rubio is going to throw his hat into the ring in 2016. >> kristen welker frequently draws the short straw, good to see you, thank you. >> reporter: all the tough assignments, thanks, craig. >>> feel like you need a vacation? so do your lawmakers aparentally. thursday republicans blocked voting former nebraska senator chuck hagel into the defense post he's nominated for in president obama's cabinet and yesterday they left town for nine days. joining me now jake sherman, congressional reporter, molly bald, national political reporter at "the atlantic." molly, today's "new york times" california democrat barbara boxer likened the block that republicans like texas senator ted cruz have put on chuck hagel to mccarthyism. what was the point of prolonging this hagel vote until after everyone reconvenes? >> well, i think that republicans started out with some legitimate questions